Frame refinishing

Tom M · 01-16-2006, 04:22 PM

I have a Mauser Parabellum (29/70) that could really stand to have the frame reblued. The metal is not dinged or scratched, but the bluing was either thin at manufacturing time, or has not worn well. The slide and barrel are OK. Any suggestions as to who I should have do the work, or even if I should have it done? Thanks.

thegundude · 01-16-2006, 04:56 PM

In a word "Thor".

Thor340@aol.com

pipeman45 · 01-16-2006, 05:14 PM

I'll second that:
Send it to Thor,
Send it to Thor.

Stu · 01-16-2006, 06:36 PM

Thor will be able to refinish your gun anyway you like and it'll look better than new. How about rust blueing it ?

Daniel · 01-16-2006, 11:10 PM

Can recommend Bill Adair from personal experience, inexpensive too.

Tom M · 01-17-2006, 07:46 AM

Thanks for the replies, folks.

Daniel, do you have contact information for Mr. Adair?

Tomathvl · 01-17-2006, 09:34 AM

http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/

Tom

thegundude · 01-17-2006, 12:42 PM

Thanks for that Tom.

His prices look pretty good. What's his turnaround time like these days, do you know?

01-17-2006, 12:47 PM

I have had about a six month turn around. Worth waiting for.

Ponyman · 01-18-2006, 10:39 AM

Thor has previously stated that a deposit may be used to hold a place in his backlog queue, rather than requiring the customer to part with the gun for an extended period. Does Mr. Adair offer that arrangement? Does Mr. Adair have a "signature" similar to Thor's three red dots?

Herb · 01-18-2006, 11:22 AM

Tom, I've used a shop in Florida before that I found to be very reasonable and they did good work. The Luger was an Eurfurt that someone had nickel/chrome plated. This shop electrically removed that finish and reblued it for about $150. I had to totally disassemble it myself to get that price but I wanted to do that anyway (don't really care to do it again though). Their email is http://www.apwcogan.com/ . If you want an unbelievable total refurb I highly recommend Thor, you won't find better.

Rod WMG · 01-18-2006, 07:30 PM

Daniel, when I left my artillery with Thor in April, he asked me if I wanted the dots or not; it seems to be optional now. He did it on all guns at one time apparently to help insure that someone wouldn't try to pass off one of his restorations as original.

I elected to get them just because a Thor restored gun might be worth some $ to my heirs. I have no intention of selling it and I may take it with me!

Stu · 01-21-2006, 12:38 PM

Nobody is 'forced' to do anything; sending a gun for restoration is entirely voluntary, you accept the terms and conditions, or go elsewhere.

I believe that Thor marks his work as a service to us all. The authenticity and quality of his work might well allow someone to carefully age one of his restorations and resell the resulting '99% jewel' for significant money.

I applaud him for taking the initiative to prevent this, and have a degree of sorrow that, (I suspect), some of his customers believe that three small dots placed internally are intolerable.

I hope none of the less than expert members of the forum, (such as myself), part with thousands of dollars some time in the future as a result of outright deception based on the excellent quality of the work of an honest man.

wlyon · 01-21-2006, 01:57 PM

Stu I couldn't agree with you more. It is surprising to me that some of our collecting society would be against marking restorations. It is only for the protection of us and future collectors. Maybe I'm getting to old.

01-16-2006, 04:22 PM	#1
Tom M User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 37 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Frame refinishing I have a Mauser Parabellum (29/70) that could really stand to have the frame reblued. The metal is not dinged or scratched, but the bluing was either thin at manufacturing time, or has not worn well. The slide and barrel are OK. Any suggestions as to who I should have do the work, or even if I should have it done? Thanks. __________________ Tom

01-16-2006, 04:56 PM	#2
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	In a word "Thor". Thor340@aol.com __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

01-16-2006, 05:14 PM	#3
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I'll second that: Send it to Thor, Send it to Thor. __________________ Dave

01-17-2006, 07:46 AM	#6
Tom M User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 37 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the replies, folks. Daniel, do you have contact information for Mr. Adair? __________________ Tom

01-17-2006, 12:42 PM	#8
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks for that Tom. His prices look pretty good. What's his turnaround time like these days, do you know? __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

01-16-2006, 06:36 PM	#4
Stu User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 451 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Thor will be able to refinish your gun anyway you like and it'll look better than new. How about rust blueing it ?

01-16-2006, 11:10 PM	#5
Daniel User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ct. and Ma. Posts: 152 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can recommend Bill Adair from personal experience, inexpensive too.

01-17-2006, 09:34 AM	#7
Tomathvl User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Milan, IN Posts: 363 Thanks: 3 Thanked 48 Times in 19 Posts	http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/ Tom

01-17-2006, 12:47 PM	#9
RGARRETT Guest Posts: n/a	I have had about a six month turn around. Worth waiting for.

01-18-2006, 10:39 AM	#10
Ponyman User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlantic County, NJ, USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thor has previously stated that a deposit may be used to hold a place in his backlog queue, rather than requiring the customer to part with the gun for an extended period. Does Mr. Adair offer that arrangement? Does Mr. Adair have a "signature" similar to Thor's three red dots? __________________ "The Constitution is intended for use by a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." ~ John Quincy Adams

01-18-2006, 11:22 AM	#11
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Tom, I've used a shop in Florida before that I found to be very reasonable and they did good work. The Luger was an Eurfurt that someone had nickel/chrome plated. This shop electrically removed that finish and reblued it for about $150. I had to totally disassemble it myself to get that price but I wanted to do that anyway (don't really care to do it again though). Their email is http://www.apwcogan.com/ . If you want an unbelievable total refurb I highly recommend Thor, you won't find better. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

01-18-2006, 07:30 PM	#12
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Daniel, when I left my artillery with Thor in April, he asked me if I wanted the dots or not; it seems to be optional now. He did it on all guns at one time apparently to help insure that someone wouldn't try to pass off one of his restorations as original. I elected to get them just because a Thor restored gun might be worth some $ to my heirs. I have no intention of selling it and I may take it with me!

01-21-2006, 12:38 PM	#13
Stu User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 451 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Nobody is 'forced' to do anything; sending a gun for restoration is entirely voluntary, you accept the terms and conditions, or go elsewhere. I believe that Thor marks his work as a service to us all. The authenticity and quality of his work might well allow someone to carefully age one of his restorations and resell the resulting '99% jewel' for significant money. I applaud him for taking the initiative to prevent this, and have a degree of sorrow that, (I suspect), some of his customers believe that three small dots placed internally are intolerable. I hope none of the less than expert members of the forum, (such as myself), part with thousands of dollars some time in the future as a result of outright deception based on the excellent quality of the work of an honest man.

01-21-2006, 01:57 PM	#14
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 3,145 Thanked 2,531 Times in 943 Posts	Stu I couldn't agree with you more. It is surprising to me that some of our collecting society would be against marking restorations. It is only for the protection of us and future collectors. Maybe I'm getting to old. __________________ Bill Lyon